Metro glass stations vulnerable to heat, riots

Islamabad - Preparations are in full swing for the launch of Metro Bus Service (MBS) in the twin cities but the glass infrastructure of the stations all along the route can prove to be a double edged sword.

The vast glass infrastructure has put itself and the commuters vulnerable to potential riots and scorching summer heat respectively. Going by the past trends, the metro bus stations are likely to be the first casualty in case riots erupt in the city.

And glass sheets erected at the stations remain the most vulnerable, reveals a survey of the metro bus stations. In case of law and order situation, the baton-wielding protesters usually rush to the soft targets as cinema houses, banks, petrol pumps and restaurants and newly-built metro stations, being it more of glass infrastructure, seem to be an addition to the list.

On the day of assassination of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto in 2007, riots had paralysed life in the garrison city and other parts of the country and the protesters had damaged public property at a large scale.

In September 2012, the protesters had ransacked public properties, including a toll plaza at IJP Road as the protesters turned violent during a demonstration against an American sacrilegious movie.

On the other hand, the clear glass walls at the bus stations are likely to lead to severe humidity within the cabins, particularly in the afternoon.

With no air-conditioning system in what would be closed door glass cabins, the temperature has already started escalating, particularly in the afternoon, with the summer still to show its real colour, revealed the survey.

Masood Malik, who is doing a private job in Blue Area, stood by the Parade Ground Metro Bus Station along with his friends at noon. The topic of the discussion among the group of friends was the usefulness of the metro service for the people of the twin cities.

“Imagine if people come again, on the scale of dharna of Tahir ul Qadri,” Masood Malik said, referring to last year’s opposition agitation campaign in the capital. Naveed ul Islam, his friend, endorsed the apprehensions. He also expressed concern over the soaring temperature inside the cabins. “The summer is yet to come. Temperature is already becoming unbearable,” he said. “Only fans will not work.”

When contacted, Director Engineering Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA), Asghar Warraich said that there was proper ventilation system in place at the stations.

He was of the view that fans installed inside the metro cabins would not let temperature go up and that the commuters will face no problem as far as weather hardships are concerned. On another question of vulnerability attached to the glass infrastructure at the stations, Warraich said there would be proper security system in place for 24/7.

“Metro Bus Authority would have its own security guards at each station besides security and night vision cameras. I don not see any problem with the glass structure and the government would ensure its protection at all costs,” he added.